Bathers&#39; inclined rotary water platform



M. J. HIRE BATHERS INCLINED ROTARY WATER PLATFORM Filed Oct.15, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 R Q MeJVZ/I J 61 76 Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,138

7 M. J. HIRE BATHERS INCLINED ROTARY WATER PLATFORM Filed Oct. 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. J. HIRE Filed Oct. 15'. 192? 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "I H I E90 6 m n a, v if? V 7 1461 167111??? 7 we: m? fly bmfl 0 9 'Mm/wf WW- Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

res-ans MERRILL J". HIRE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNDR TO PLAYGROUND & GYM-- NASIUM EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF MINNEA OF MINNESOTA.

BATHERS INCLINED ROTARY WATER PLATFORM.

Application filed October 15, 1927. Serial No. 226,493.

My present invention provides a simple efficient and highly desirable amusement device adapted for use by bathers at bathing places or at amusementplaces or resorts. This device is in the nature of a rotary platform or table or deck set for rotation on an inclined axis and itself set in an oblique plane. This rotary platform is preferably round and it should be of such size that quite a large number of persons may occupy the same at the same time. It will be free to rotate at variable speeds, depending on the dis tribution of weight of the bathers thereon,

' but it should be sosetthat its lower edge will run close to the surface of the water. As a support for the inclined rotary platform there is provided a suitable framework provided with an inclined annular track for wheels provided on the bottom of the platform, and this support will be partly immersed in the water. At the high side of the inclined rotary platform there is a suitableapproach so that bathers may step upon the upper portion of said platform.

The operation and manner of obtaining amusement from this device will be more fully considered after first having described a commercial form of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings. 1

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the complete device including the inclined rotary platform;

Fig. 2 is-a vertical section taken'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the platform-supporting frame and its annular track;

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing one of the annular track sections;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the rotary platform and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of one of the quadrants or sections of said platform.

The numeral 7 indicates a substantially rectangular supporting frame having an oblique top on which is secured an annular metallic track shown as made up of sections 8. Bigidly secured to the oblique top frame 7 at'the axis of the annular track 8 is aheavy oblique to the radial beams 10*. are two wheels 15 for each quadrant or eight bearing 9, the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the track 8.

- The oblique rotary platform indicated as an entirety by the numeral 10 is a flat circular disk-like structure of such large size that a large number of bathers may occupy the same at the same time. In the commercial devices, this rotary disk-like platform has been made approximately thirteen and one-half feet in diameter. To facilitate shipment, this large platform is made in sections, each section being preferably a quadrant shown in detail in 6. Each such quadrant includes a flat topdisk-forn'iing portion or platform section proper 10, radiating beams 10 and tangential tie beams 10. The abutting beams 10 of the several assembled segments are tied together by nut-equipped bolts 11 and at their inner angles the several quadrants are rigidly secured to the center p1n plate 12 by means of nut-equipped bolts 13. This center pinplate 12 is provided with, a heavy uintle 14 that is located at the projected axis of the rotary platform and is loosely journaled in the oblique bearing 9. Thus the rotary platform is amply supported at its central portion and journaled for rotary movement in an oblique plane, but to support the weight of the outer portion of the platform it is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced wheels POLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION- 15 which, as shown are journaled in bearings 16 secured on bridge plates 17 rigidly secured As shown; there wheels 15 in all, but of course the numberof these wheels may be varied. All of the wheels 15 are positioned to run on the annular track 8. I

This rotary plat-form is preferably a wooden structure. The exposed wooden surface unless made very smooth is-likely to sliver and injure persons ridingon the plat form and a smooth wooden surface, when wet, would be very slippery In practice I have found that best results can be'obtained by covering the exposed surface of the rotary platform with a quite rough fabric such as a very heavy canvas or some other strong cloth which, whenwet, will not be objectionably slippery. In practice, this is best accomplished'by providing the quadrants or segments of the platform with fabric coverings 1.8 which will be independently applied to the quadrants in the factory and which, in the assembled platform, will afford a complete covering therefor.

\Vhen the device is properly set up, the

lower portion of the rotary platform will be approximately at the water surface, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. The bathers should get onto the rotary platform at the upper portion thereof, and to facilitate this, there is provided an approach in the form of an elevated platform 19 supported by a framework 20 and provided witlra stairway 21 leading from the water.

From the foregoing it is evident that the rotary platform is free to rotate in either direction and be rotated at any speed. The speed at which it will be rotated will depend on the way that the bathers distribute themselves over the surface of the platform. Of course, when there is a greater weight on one side than on the othergthe platform will be rotated in a direction downward on that side of the greatest weight. The greater the preponderance of weight on the one side than on the other, the greater will be the speed at which the platform is rotated. Of course, it will be a comparatively easy matter for loathers to maintain their positions on the upper and side portions of the platform and there will be the greatest tendency, under the action of both centrifugal force and gravity, to throw the bathers ofl from the lower portion of the platform and into the water. The greater the speed of the platform the greaterwill be the tendency to thus throw the bathers off from the lower portion of the platform and into the water.

It is desirable that this rotary platform.

-1nay manipulate the same in various different ways. V I For example, they may form opposing parties, each attempting to outdo the other in determining in which direction the platform shall be rotated, and they may also join forces in an attempt to give the rotary platform a high speed of rotation and thereby attempt to throw each other off from the platform under the action of such high rotation.

In practice the device has been found to be very popular and to afford not only great amusement but a means for obtaining the best kind of exercise. In practice I have found that it adds somewhat to interest to paint or mark the face of the rotary platform with concentric zones which divide th platform into imaginary concentric surfaces.

in an amusement device of the character above described it is of course of the utmost importance that the rotary disk-like platform or table, except at its upper portion, b clear and free from all obstructions, and this is especially true in respect to the lower portion of said platform where it is absolutely essential that there be no obstructions things of any kind that will prevent the bathers from being thrown into the water without damage or injury.

.Vhat I claim is: 1

1. A bathers amusement device comprising a suitable support and on said support a rotary disk-like platform set in an oblique plane for rotation on an oblique axis said platform being free for rotation in either direction, thedirection of rotation depending on the preponderance of weight on the one side or the other thereof, said platform being arranged to be set with its lower portion approximately at the water level and being free from adjacent obstructions for the discharge of leathers from the lower portion of said platform and into the water, said platform being substantially flat and free from obstructions. r V

2A bathers amusement device comprising a suitable support and on said support a rotary disk-like platform setin an oblique planefor rotation on an oblique axis, said disk-like platform being made up of a plurality of rigidly but detachably connected segments, a center plate rigidly connecting the end portions of all of said segments and pivotally connected to said support at the axis of said platform, said support having an annular track concentric to the pivotal axis of said platform, and the segments of said platform having circumferentially spaced wheels running on said annular track.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

MERRILL J. HIRE. 

